Deputies mourn one of their own

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Edgecombe County Sheriff Clee Atkinson, left, speaks about the patrol vehicle accident which claimed the life of Edgecombe County Deputy David Lee'Sean Manning during a press conference Monday at the Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office in Tarboro.

A 24-year-old deputy from the Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office was killed during a two-car crash Sunday, while the person in another vehicle that he was chasing escaped from law enforcement after fleeing the scene near the fatal collision, according to authorities.

Edgecombe County Sheriff Clee Atkinson said Deputy David Lee’Sean Manning was killed in the line of duty. Manning had been employed with the Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office since Nov. 8. Authorities said the other people in a Chevrolet Silverado involved in the collision sustained serious to non-life threatening injuries.

“He was an awesome young guy, who had great energy and was part of the future moving forward at the Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office,” Atkinson said. “We are truly saddened by the loss of Deputy Manning. All parties involved in this fatal collision will continue to be in our prayers.”

Atkinson said the suspect, who Manning was pursuing was driving a Nissan Altima and later crashed into a ditch near the fatal wreck. The driver got out of his car and ran from the scene. A K9 search by the Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office and surrounding agencies failed to locate the suspect, Atkinson said.

He added the investigation is being handled by the N.C. Highway Patrol as the agency’s Traffic Reconstruction Unit was called to investigate the fatal investigation.

Atkinson said the Sheriff’s Office received a call about 6:17 p.m. Sunday that there had been a collision involving one of its patrol cars.

Mary Collins, office assistant at the N.C. Highway Patrol station in Rocky Mount, said Manning was traveling south on N.C. 111 when he went to pursue a vehicle traveling north on N.C. 111. Atkinson said Manning noticed a traffic violation.

Collins said Manning proceeded to turn around in his patrol car in pursuit of the vehicle and started to travel south on the same road. She said Manning went around a curve, crossed the centerline and collided head o with the Chevrolet Silveradon.

Atkinson said Manning died from his injuries at the scene. Atkinson said more than 100 officers, including the Tarboro Police Department, Rocky Mount Police Department, Nash County Sheriff’s Office and other surrounding law enforcement agencies showed up to assist at the scene and offer support.

“We got geat support from our neighboring agencies, which was big time for us because we had to send a couple squads home because it was really emotional,” he said.